- Lee Jung-jae told Business Insider that "Squid Game" season two was coming in December.
- Lee stars in the South Korean Netflix drama as Seong Gi-hun.
- "Squid Game" was a massive success for Netflix, and is its most-viewed series to date.
The highly anticipated season two of "Squid Game" is on the horizon.
Lee Jung-jae, who plays Seong Gi-hun in the South Korean Netflix drama, gave Business Insider an update on the series on the Disney Upfronts red carpet on Tuesday, where he was promoting his upcoming Star Wars series "The Acolyte."
When BI asked if Lee could tease anything about the upcoming second season, the actor kept the major details close to his chest.
"It will be released in December," Lee told BI through an interpreter.
Representatives for Netflix did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Netflix has not yet officially released a premiere date for season two, though co-CEO Ted Sarandos said during a Netflix earnings call in April that it would be released in the back half of 2024, per The Hollywood Reporter.
Netflix released the first season of "Squid Game" in September 2021. The show, created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, follows a contest in which 456 players compete for a 45.6 billion won (approximately $3.3 millino) prize through a series of children's games. However, a loss doesn't just mean missing out on the money — it means instant death.
The series was a massive hit for Netflix, and according to its own data, is the platform's most-viewed show to date in terms of hours viewed. The show also got plenty of critical love: It was nominated for 14 Emmys in 2022 and won six of them, including an outstanding directing award for Hwang. Netflix renewed the show for a second season with Lee attached in June 2022, and has also launched a reality competition spinoff series.
Before "Squid Game" season two, you'll be able to see Lee on the small screen in "The Acolyte." The series, created by Leslye Headland, takes place outside the primary Skywalker Saga continuity. And though Lee has experience with sword-wielding, doing a "Star Wars" show presented a different challenge: lightsaber dueling.
"It was actually a lot more difficult than any kind of sword work that I've done previously, and I was actually very nervous for it," Lee said.
"The Acolyte" premieres June 4 on Disney+.
Disclosure: Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Business Insider's parent company, Axel Springer, is a Netflix board member.